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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 6 · Prescribed Duties for Mankind · 19 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 6 · Chapter 1: The History of the Life of Ajāmila
6.1.496.1.51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.1.50

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Yamadūtassince 6.1.40inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitThe Viṣṇudūtas → the Yamadūtas

पञ्चभि: कुरुते स्वार्थान् पञ्च वेदाथ पञ्चभि: ।

एकस्तु षोडशेन त्रीन् स्वयं सप्तदशोऽश्नुते ॥ ५० ॥

pañcabhiḥ kurute svārthān

pañca vedātha pañcabhiḥ

ekas tu ṣoḍaśena trīn

svayaṁ saptadaśo ’śnute

Translation

Above the five senses of perception, the five working senses and the five objects of the senses is the mind, which is the sixteenth element. Above the mind is the seventeenth element, the soul, the living being himself, who, in cooperation with the other sixteen, enjoys the material world alone. The living being enjoys three kinds of situations, namely happy, distressful and mixed.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Our True Goal Is to Satisfy Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    The soul is above the mind and senses. Through them, the living being experiences happiness, distress and a mixture of both.

  2. 2

    People work to enjoy sense objects without knowing that life's actual goal is to satisfy the Supreme Lord. The Lord kindly comes to teach them how to return home, back to Godhead.

  3. 3

    Everyone is responsible for his own life, and only Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, can deliver one from material entanglement. Our concern should therefore be to satisfy Him and become His pure devotee.

Key points from the purport
  • Although many other men and aquatics are swimming in the ocean, he must take care of himself because no one else will help him.
  • Therefore this verse indicates that the seventeenth item, the soul, must work alone.
  • Therefore one’s only hope, as Kṛṣṇa advises, is to surrender to Him, for He can help one become free from the ocean of nescience.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Guilt and mortal terror → Mercy and renewed devotion. The holy name opens a path beyond an apparently hopeless death.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 6: Ajāmila and the Viṣṇudūtas. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: The History of the Life of Ajāmila

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

While performing fruitive activities one can become free from the actions of sinful life through austerity, penance, celibacy, control of the mind and senses, truthfulness and the practice of mystic yoga. By awakening knowledge one may also neutralize sinful reactions.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.1
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pañcabhiḥwith the five working senses (voice, arms, legs, anus and genitals)
  2. kuruteperforms
  3. sva-arthānhis desired interests
  4. pañcathe five objects of the senses (sound, form, touch, aroma and taste)
  5. vedaknows
  6. athathus
  7. pañcabhiḥby the five senses of perception (hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting and feeling)
  8. ekaḥthe one
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “distressful”, “kindly”, “distress”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “devotee”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How could one of my daily activities become an effort to satisfy Kṛṣṇa rather than only my senses?

Practice

Before one task today, pause and pray to Kṛṣṇa for help in acting as His servant.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

3 lectures given on it · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Show 1 more lecture on it
Quoted in 1 other lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayOur True Goal Is to Satisfy KṛṣṇaThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

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